The Truth About Tapering Off Psychiatric Medications

Can adenosine and a ketogenic diet help treat addiction? New research explores the powerful role of adenosine, dopamine, and metabolic health in addiction, and how dietary strategies could support recovery.In this interview, Dr. Bret Scher speaks with Dr. Susan Masino, a neuroscience and psychology professor at Trinity College, about her groundbreaking work on adenosine and its potential to regulate addiction through metabolic pathways. They dive into:The dopamine-addiction connectionThe role of adenosine in addiction and how it balances dopamine activityThe role of ketogenic diets in boosting adenosineOther mechanisms supporting keto for treating addictionWhy food, sugar, and even phone addiction may share common rootsHow metabolic therapies could support recovery from addiction, depression, and moreDr. Masino also shares insights on how habits, stress, inflammation, and neuroplasticity all intersect with metabolic health—and what that means for mental health and addiction treatment going forward.Expert Featured:Dr. Susan Masinohttps://internet3.trincoll.edu/facprofiles/default.aspx?fid=1117011Resources Mentioned:Ketogenic diet, adenosine, and dopamine in addiction and psychiatryhttps://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1492306/fullFollow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry.Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at https://metabolicmind.org/About us:Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them.Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications.

Have you ever thought about stopping psychiatric medications? Maybe you have tried it.If so, you’re not alone. Many individual across the world have considered or tried stopping their psychiatric medications and success is variable.The withdrawal from psychiatric medication tapering can be incredibly complex, and doing it safely requires both medical and psychological support.But, as Dr. Anders Sørensen highlights in this interview, the guidelines around medication tapering and withdrawal miss a lot of important nuances that can prevent people from being successful.In this interview, psychologist and PhD researcher Dr. Anders Sørensen shares his decade-long experience helping people taper off psychiatric medications. He covers the biological and emotional aspects of withdrawal, the science behind tapering strategies like hyperbolic tapering, and why psychotherapy plays a vital role during and after the process. You'll also learn how short-term clinical studies shaped medical guidelines and why those guidelines may not reflect the lived experience of long-term patients.In this video, you'll also learn:Why withdrawal can feel like relapse—and how to tell the differenceWhat makes tapering more complex than just reducing the doseHow to understand withdrawal symptoms and avoid severe outcomesWhy “tapering to something” (like therapy or metabolic interventions) mattersHow psychotherapy can support emotional reintegration once medications are goneWatch for Dr. Sørensen’s forthcoming book “Crossing Zero: The Art and Science of Coming and Staying Off Psychiatric Drugs” coming in summer 2025.Expert Featured:Dr. Anders SørensenX: https://x.com/_AndersSorensenSubstack: https://crossingzero.substack.com/Book Coming Soon: https://crossingzero.substack.com/p/curious-about-the-bookResources Mentioned:Clinical practice guideline recommendations on tapering and discontinuing antidepressants for depression: a systematic reviewhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35173954/Follow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry.Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at https://metabolicmind.org/About us:Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them.Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications.

Is it really treatment-resistant depression or are we using the wrong treatments?In this episode, Dr. Bret Scher is joined by psychiatrist Dr. Georgia Ede to examine a new large, population-based analysis on the use of antipsychotics versus third-line antidepressants in people diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression, and what effect that has on suicide risk.They discuss:What treatment-resistant depression actually meansWhy so many people fall into this categoryThe surprising data on suicide risk and all-cause mortalityThe metabolic side effects of antipsychotic medicationsAlternative options beyond antipsychotics—including ketogenic therapy and other metabolic strategiesThis conversation explores why conventional approaches may fall short, and how metabolic psychiatry offers promising, low-risk alternatives.📌 Please note: This episode discusses suicide and may be triggering for some viewers.Expert Featured:Dr. Georgia Ede, MDhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/georgiaedemd/https://www.instagram.com/georgiaedemd/?hl=enhttps://x.com/georgiaedemdResources MentionedAntipsychotic therapy and suicide risk in patients with treatment-resistant depression: target trial emulation framework studyhttps://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.2024.283CMEs Mentioned:Managing Major Mental Illness with Dietary Change: The New Science of Hopehttps://www.mycme.com/courses/managing-major-mental-illness-with-dietary-change-9616Brain Energy: The Metabolic Theory of Mental Illnesshttps://www.mycme.com/courses/brain-energy-the-metabolic-theory-of-mental-illness-9615Follow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry.Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at https://metabolicmind.org/About us:Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them.Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications.

Are ketogenic diets dangerous? What about nutrient deficiencies, gout, gut health, keto rash, bone density loss, or kidney stones?In this video, registered dietitian and ketogenic therapy expert Beth Zupec-Kania, RDN, CD, shares insights from over 30 years of clinical experience to address the most common concerns and misconceptions about ketogenic therapiesFrom vitamin and mineral intake to gallbladder issues, sleep disruptions, leg cramps, keto flu, and more, this interview covers it all.Beth also explains how ketogenic therapy can be adapted for various lifestyles, preferences, and health conditions, and offers practical tips for managing social situations, emotional transitions, and athletic performance while following a well-formulated ketogenic diet.In this interview, you’ll learn:Why many concerns stem from outdated pediatric protocolsHow to safely supplement and avoid nutrient deficienciesWhat to know about the microbiome, bowel habits, and fiber intakeHow to prevent keto flu, leg cramps, and other common keto side effectsWhen to be cautious with medications that impact bone or kidney healthHow keto may support those with eating disorders—not cause themWhether you're just starting out or considering ketogenic therapy for epilepsy, type 2 diabetes, mental health, weight loss, or another condition, this video will help ease your mind of many of the concerns around ketogenic dieting.Whether you're new to metabolic therapies or exploring ketogenic strategies for conditions like epilepsy, type 2 diabetes, serious mental illness, weight loss, or another condition, this video addresses common concerns and offers clarity on how a well-formulated ketogenic diet can be a powerful, science-backed option worth considering.Expert Featured:Beth Zupec-Kania, RDN, CDhttps://www.bethzupeckania.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-zupec-kania-58201421/Resources Mentioned:Managing Major Mental Illness with Dietary Change: The New Science of Hopehttps://www.mycme.com/courses/managing-major-mental-illness-with-dietary-change-9616Brain Energy: The Metabolic Theory of Mental Illnesshttps://www.mycme.com/courses/brain-energy-the-metabolic-theory-of-mental-illness-9615Follow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry.Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at https://metabolicmind.org/About us:Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them.Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done...

Is nutrition research getting the support it needs to inform public health policy?Despite the rise in chronic diseases related to lifestyle factors like diet, nutrition research only receives $2.2 billion of the $30 billion NIH budget.At first glance, this may seem like a lot of money, but its utilization is spread thin, and, as Dr. David Ludwig and Gary Taubes highlight in this interview, it’s primarily used to fund misleading short term trials that confirm existing nutrition biases.However, if we want to actually address the chronic disease epidemic, we must increase the resources allocated to nutrition research AND the quality of that research.In this video, journalist Gary Taubes and Harvard endocrinologist Dr. David Ludwig expose the core problems in today’s most cited nutrition studies and offer a bold new path forward.In this conversation, you’ll learn:Why short-term feeding studies can’t tell us much about chronic diseaseHow confirmation bias shapes which nutrition studies get funded, published, and accepted by the medical community and policy makersThe major flaws in NIH-funded research comparing low-carb vs. low-fat dietsWhy the focus on ultra-processed foods is only part of the solutionHow we could design better long-term studies that actually help people get healthierIt’s time to question the status quo and demand better utilization of research funds to inform public health policy in a way that can impactfully improve the health of our population.We encourage you to share this interview so more people can understand the flaws in existing nutrition science and what we can do to fix it.Expert Featured:Gary Taubeshttp://x.com/garytaubes?lang=enhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-taubes-942a6459/Dr. David Ludwig, MDhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/davidludwigmd/https://x.com/davidludwigmdResources Mentioned:Studieshttps://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2024-082963https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.10.03.23296501https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2673150https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1212914https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2019.05.008Short-term diet trials are designed to failhttps://www.statnews.com/2025/04/22/nutrition-precision-health-short-term-diet-trials-chronic-disease-food/Gary's Substack Articlehttps://uncertaintyprinciples.substack.com/p/nih-has-a-nutrition-problem-partCMEs Mentioned:Managing Major Mental Illness with Dietary

Can exogenous ketones help treat mental illness? In this interview, psychiatry resident and researcher in the Netherlands Dr. Karin Huizer shares groundbreaking insights into her pilot study using ketone esters for mental health. The hope is that this early research will inform us to whether or not supplemental ketones are a viable option for mental health, which could be especially useful for patients who struggle to follow a full ketogenic diet.Dr. Huizer brings a unique perspective as both a scientist and someone living with bipolar disorder. She discusses:Why exogenous ketones might be a more accessible intervention for patients with treatment-resistant mental illnessThe design and goals of her current randomized, triple-blinded clinical trialHow biomarkers like cortisol and melatonin are being measured in real-time using wearable nanotechThe growing metabolic psychiatry community in the NetherlandsThis conversation is full of insight, compassion, and hope for more effective, science-backed treatments in mental health.Watch now to learn how metabolic interventions are evolving and what that could mean for patients worldwide.Expert Featured:Dr. Karin Huizer, MD PhDhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/karin-huizer-319bb25/Resources Mentioned:Managing Major Mental Illness with Dietary Change: The New Science of Hopehttps://www.mycme.com/courses/managing-major-mental-illness-with-dietary-change-9616Brain Energy: The Metabolic Theory of Mental Illnesshttps://www.mycme.com/courses/brain-energy-the-metabolic-theory-of-mental-illness-9615Follow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry.Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at https://metabolicmind.org/About us:Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them.Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications.

Youth mental illness is on the rise, and treatment options are often limited, especially for kids with bipolar disorder. This Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re highlighting a groundbreaking new real-world data collection funded by the Baszucki Group exploring ketogenic therapy as a promising intervention for children and adolescents living with bipolar disorder.In this interview, Elizabeth Errico, founder of the Children's Mental Health Resource Center (CMHRC), shares how her organization is implementing ketogenic therapy in a real-world setting for kids aged 6 to 17. The year-long study is part of a larger initiative supported by the Baszucki Group to expand mental health care options through metabolic approaches.Families in the program receive education, hands-on support, and guidance to help implement this dietary therapy at home—often with life-changing results.In this video, you’ll learn:Why early diagnosis and support for pediatric bipolar disorder is so criticalHow ketogenic therapy is being applied to youth in a structured, supportive wayWhat families need to implement this therapy successfullyEarly anecdotal outcomes from participating familiesWhy this research could help shift mainstream mental health treatmentThis is about more than data—it's about hope, empowerment, and building a better path forward for families navigating serious mental illness.Expert Featured:Elizabeth Erricohttps://cmhrc.org/Other Resources Mentioned:Managing Major Mental Illness with Dietary Change: The New Science of Hopehttps://www.mycme.com/courses/managing-major-mental-illness-with-dietary-change-9616Brain Energy: The Metabolic Theory of Mental Illnesshttps://www.mycme.com/courses/brain-energy-the-metabolic-theory-of-mental-illness-9615Follow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry.Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at https://metabolicmind.org/About us:Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them.Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications.

Can ketogenic therapy help reduce or even resolve symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)? Dr. Chris Palmer and research assistant Aaron MacDonald join Metabolic Mind to discuss one of the first published case series exploring metabolic and ketogenic interventions for OCD. In this video, you’ll learn: - Why OCD deserves more attention as a serious, life-limiting condition - How three individuals saw dramatic symptom relief using a therapeutic ketogenic diet - What role ketosis may play in symptom reduction and why results varied from two weeks to a full year - The potential mechanisms behind metabolic therapies and brain energy metabolism - Why more research, including randomized controlled trials, is urgently needed This conversation is especially valuable for clinicians, patients, and families seeking new approaches for treatment-resistant OCD. It also touches on broader implications of metabolic health across a range of mental illnesses, including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, and the importance of supervised, individualized treatment plans. Hear how both guests bring personal experience with OCD into their research, and why they’re hopeful this work will pave the way for better, much-needed options in mental health care. Experts Featured:- Dr. Chris Palmer, MD Website - https://chrispalmermd.com - Book: https://brainenergy.com - Aaron John MacDonald, research assistant in the Metabolic and Mental Health Program at McLean Hospital Follow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry. Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at https://metabolicmind.orgAbout us:Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them.Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications.

Can ketogenic therapy improve both cardiovascular and mental health? A new study at Mayo Clinic is exploring that question—and during Mental Health Awareness Month, it's especially exciting to see one of the world’s most prestigious medical institutions investigating the connection between ketogenic therapy and psychiatric care. This research marks a powerful full-circle moment: the ketogenic diet was first used to treat epilepsy at Mayo Clinic over 100 years ago.In this episode, we sit down with two leading physician-scientists from Mayo Clinic: Dr. Mark A. Frye (Psychiatry) and Dr. Francisco Lopez-Jimenez (Preventive Cardiology). Together, they explore how nutrition—particularly ketogenic therapy—can play a role in treating bipolar disorder, improving cardiovascular health, and addressing shared metabolic pathways that impact both heart and brain health.In this interview, you'll learn:Why Mayo Clinic is investing in research on ketogenic interventions for bipolar disorderThe potential shared mechanisms between mood disorders and cardiovascular diseaseWhat "precision nutrition" really means and why one-size-fits-all diets may not workHow Mayo researchers are using advanced cardiovascular testing to monitor safetyWhy implementation science is key to bringing dietary interventions into clinical careThis conversation bridges disciplines and opens the door to new, integrated approaches to mental and metabolic health. Watch now and discover how this groundbreaking research is challenging old paradigms and paving the way for better care.Expert Featured:Mark Frye, MDFrancisco Lopez-Jimenez, MD, MSOther Resources Mentioned:Managing Major Mental Illness with Dietary Change: The New Science of Hopehttps://www.mycme.com/courses/managing-major-mental-illness-with-dietary-change-9616Brain Energy: The Metabolic Theory of Mental Illnesshttps://www.mycme.com/courses/brain-energy-the-metabolic-theory-of-mental-illness-9615Follow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry.Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at https://metabolicmind.org/About us:Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them.Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications.

Dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and cognitive decline should not be inevitable parts of aging. In this interview, Dr. Lily Mujica-Parodi and Dr. Kirk Nylen join Dr. Bret Scher to discuss groundbreaking research revealing a key metabolic midlife marker of accelerated cognitive decline and a potential solution for slowing it.In this interview, you’ll learn:Why brain network stability rapidly declines in midlifeHow insulin resistance in neurons may be the early driver of neurodegenerationThe critical age window where metabolic interventions could have the biggest impactWhy ketones (from diet or supplementation) may restore brain function and slow cognitive declineHow lifestyle choices like diet and exercise can help protect your brain, long before symptoms ariseIf you’re in your 30s, 40s, or 50s and want to understand how to protect long-term brain health, this episode is for you. Dr. Mujica-Parodi also explains the concept of “control circuits” in physiology and how destabilization can trigger a cascade of disease. Plus, we cover the role of exogenous ketones vs. ketogenic diet and the future of brain health screening.Watch to find out how you can act now, before symptoms appear, to give your brain the best shot at staying resilient and sharp for decades to come.Expert Featured:Dr. Lily Mujica-Parodi, PhDDr. Kirk Nylen, PhDResources Mentioned:Dr. Mujica-Parodi’s websitewww.LCneuro.orgBrain aging shows nonlinear transitions, suggesting a midlife “critical window” for metabolic interventionhttps://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2416433122Managing Major Mental Illness with Dietary Change: The New Science of Hopehttps://www.mycme.com/courses/managing-major-mental-illness-with-dietary-change-9616Brain Energy: The Metabolic Theory of Mental Illnesshttps://www.mycme.com/courses/brain-energy-the-metabolic-theory-of-mental-illness-9615Follow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry.Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at https://metabolicmind.org/About us:Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them.Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications.